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Subject: Re: MAPS-L: Question: Moving Map Cases
Date: Wed, 15 Jun 2005
From: Ken Grabach <[log in to unmask]>
To: "Maps, Air Photo & Geospatial Systems Forum"



Hello, everyone.

To the question of moving map cases, I will affirm the experiences of
others who have responded.  I have been involved with two or three moves
of parts of my map collection.  In each instance, trucking crews from on
campus of our public university handled the move rather than a hired
mover specialist.  Fortunately, the crew foreman was the same in each one,
so that experience gained was available for subsequent efforts.

It is possible to move cases without having to remove contents from the
drawers.  I do recommend removing the drawers from the case carcases.  The
cases themselves, even empty, are quite sturdy.  The same cannot be said,
however, for the bases on which bottom units fit.  These can be subject to
bending and other deformations that both make it difficult to fit the
cases on them, and weaken the metal of the bases.  Be sure that they are
secured during the transport phase to prevent damage.

In my moves, the distance they were moved was from one room to another in
the same building, so that they were not transported by truck.  This is
the reason we found removal of drawer contents not to be necessary.

Be sure that instructions for the movers are clear.  Drawers should be
handled in order.  It might work well to remove them from the bottom of a
stack, and replace them from the top.  Marking new locations of cases on
the floor, with masking tape or other removable material, will make the
moving proceed efficiently.  It helps you as well as the crew who are
moving them.  As long as the cases are all of one make and model, drawers
are usually interchangeable.  It is often more convenient, however, to
keep cases and drawers matched up.  If this is not convenient or possible,
it probably is not something to worry about.

Ken
___________________________
Ken Grabach
Maps Librarian                         Phone: 513-529-1726
Miami University Libraries
Oxford, Ohio  45056  USA